Downtown Vancouver rocked by Stanley Cup post-game riot

Mike Hager, Andrea Woo and Adrienne Tanner, Vancouver Sun10.04.2011

People take pictures of a burning vehicle on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver broke out in riots after their hockey team the Vancouver Canucks lost in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.Arlen Redekop
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People take pictures of a burning vehicle on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, Canada. Vancouver broke out in riots after their hockey team the Vancouver Canucks lost in Game Seven of the Stanley Cup Finals.Jason Payne
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Violence breaks out in Vancouver after the Canucks lose the Stanley Cup final.Jessica B
/ Special to The Sun

Tear gas disperses crowd.Andrew Stanger
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90x90 size. Hockey fans riot after game 7 of the Stanley Cup finals between the Canucks and the Boston Bruins in Vancouver, BC Wednesday, June 15,Jason Payne
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riotriot
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Fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver B.C., June 15 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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Riot officers charge into the crowd as Canucks fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver, B.C. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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A Canucks fan runs in front of a burning car as fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup final, Vancouver, B.C. on Wednesday, June 15, 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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Riot in downtown Vancouver.Vancouver Sun
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Car overturned on Georgia Street following Game 7 of the Stanley CupSubmitted
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An overturned car on Georgia StreetSubmitted
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An overturned car on Georgia StreetSubmitted
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Fans at Richards and Georgia after seventh game of Stanley Cup finals between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, B.C.Steve Bosch
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Riot officers charge into the crowd as Canucks fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley cup final, Vancouver, June 15 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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Riot officers charge into the crowd as Canucks fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley cup final, Vancouver, June 15 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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Drunken Fans fighting along Georgia street near Homer after seventh game of Stanley Cup finals between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, B.C. (Steve Bosch/PNG)Steve Bosch
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Fans at Richards and Georgia after seventh game of Stanley Cup finals between the Vancouver Canucks and Boston Bruins on June 15, 2011 in Vancouver, B.C.teve Bosch
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Before 3rd period ended... I had to get out of there because I knew I'll be taking more than just a full Coke bottle to my back. People were starting to run away at this point, myself included.courtesy of Dani S
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out of control crowdsDean Broughton
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wild crowdsDean Broughton
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Riot officers charge into the crowd as Canucks fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup Finals in Vancouver, June 15 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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A Canucks fan yells in front of a burning car as fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup Finals, Vancouver, June 15 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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A Canucks fan yells and poses for a friend's camera in front of a burning car as fans riot after the Vancouver Canucks lose to the Boston Bruins in The Stanley Cup Finals, Vancouver, June 15 2011.Gerry Kahrmann
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The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

The city of Vancouver has been bracing for this all day.Broughton, Dean
/ Vancouver Sun

VANCOUVER - Angry Canucks fans went on a rampage, smashing windows, looting and torching cars and dumpsters on the streets of downtown Vancouver last night.

More than three hours after the Stanley Cup final loss, police are moving up Howe St. toward the crowd massed at the Chapters book store on Howe and Robson.

They are very gradually pushing the crowd North up Howe.

Police spokeswoman Jana McGuiness warned earlier that police are about to escalate their response.

She said they will be igniting flash-bangs, which make loud noises and spray.

"What we're doing right now is bringing in hundreds of police officers."

The message is, you need to leave."

Officers armed with canisters massed on the corner of Granville and Robson. It is not clear whether it is tear gas or pepper spray

They are protected by shields, batons and masks.

McGuiness said the epicentre of the trouble is Granville and Georgia, she said. And even if transit isn't operating, people need to walk away from the area, she said.

When asked if police had lost control of the crowd, McGuiness would only say police have a plan to deal with the unruly crowds.

Vancouver police are closing lanes on Granville and Burrard and Cambie Street bridges to prevent more people from coming Downtown. Bus service has been halted in the downtown core.

However, Skytrain and Seabuses are operating to take people out but not inot the downtown core. Translink spokesman Ken Hardie said the Burrard Skytrain station was closed briefly because the crowds were too large, but that all the stations are open now.

Police on horseback are now at the corner of Seymour on Georgia where fires are burning and windows being smashed at the Bay. They are ready to approach in attempt to clear the mob.

Looters are now inside the Sears store, intent on continuing the looting. A dumpster nearby has also be set on fire. Windows at the Chapters store on Howe and Robson are also being smashed.

Lights from a police helicopter are lighting the area, but so far police remain on the periphery.

Minutes before, the roving vandals smashed their way into London drugs, grabbing armfuls of goods and tossing bags of chips into the crowd.

At the Bay, rioters jumped in and out of the store as passersby encouraged others to loot.

A number are masking their identities with bandanas.

Mayor Gregor Robertson, looked rattled and angry as he spoke to reporters at a news conference downtown.

He called the rioting, "absolutely disgraceful and shameful."

Robertson said the Vancouver police are fully deployed and that "the focus is on getting people home safely tonight."

"We will deal with these trouble makers."

He said fire fighters are dealing with four fire and a number of "hot spots."

"There is still a lot of work to do."

The RCMP are sending in officers to help with what is now an out of control mob.

Fire department spokesman Gabe Roder said police ordered fire fighters to back away from two burning police cars because they felt they were in danger from rioters throwing objects.

It is not known how many people are injured, but there are unconfirmed reports that St. Paul's hospital has been placed on code orange, which means no staff are allowed to leave.

The provincial Solicitor General Shirley Bond said police have a plan to quell the violence.

"There has always been a plan to deploy additional police officers. This is happening as we speak."

Bond said she was hopeful the Stanley Cup final gathering would be peaceful.

"This is unbelievably embarassing for Vancouver.

"Thousands and thousands of people came to downtown Vancouver, were disappointed and went home but were respectful."

Cars are being turned over, torched, and angry Canuck fans are ripping off jerseys to fuel the flames. Others are smashing windows and throwing bottles and even bricks at police in riot gear.

Windows are being smashed all along the East side of the Bay.

After more than an hour of rioting, Mayor Gregor Robertson issued a statement.

"It is extremely disappointing to see the situation in downtown Vancouver turn violent after tonight’s Stanley Cup game. Vancouver is a world-class city and it is embarrassing and shameful to see the type of violence and disorder we’ve seen tonight," he said in a statement.

"The vast majority of people who were in the downtown tonight were there to enjoy the game in a peaceful and respectful manner. It is unfortunate that a small number of people intent on criminal activity have turned pockets of the downtown into areas involving destruction of property and confrontations with police."

Fueled by alcohol, the crowd near the Bay lit a BMW on fire. One drunken reveller jumped on top of the burning car and tumbled to the crowd yelling in pain.

Police were nowhere in sight as more rowdy fans threw slats into fire.

An intense crowd is gathering now at the corner of Georgia and Seymour. The mounted police squad is moving up Georgia, where a group of angry fans are still occupying the east side of Georgia.

At Georgia and Granville the crowds smashed windows at new Michael Kors store. Police used pepper spray but were not able to make arrests due to the size of the crowd.

And another huge police contingent is gathering at Vancouver Art Gallery.

The first fires were set at Georgia and Hamilton outside the post office and as the crowds migrated, others were set. One is burning now a parkade on Richards.

Smoke and pepper spray mingled, making it difficult to breathe in some areas of the downtown core. Plumes of smoke rising above the city are visible from as far away as East Vancouver.

Rocks and bricks were thrown at police in riot gear who at about 9 p.m. were in a standoff at a number of chokepoints and urging the unruly fans to go home.

Pepper spray was also used in the area of Granville and Nelson.

Officers in riot gear are at a standoff with aggressive fans at a number of other choke points in the Downtown core.

Fights have been ongoing in the downtown core for more than an hour now. At Georgia and Homer, vandals broke windows at the Band of Montreal.

Others reached inside the broken glass to rip blinds from the windows.

At Georgia and Hamilton, fires are still burning where fans tossed jerseys and garbage into the flames. Another fire is burning at a parkade on Richards Street.

Vandals are now moving toward the Bay, breaking windows as they go. Window at First Bite Pizza on Granville St. were being smashed as the angry mob moved. There is report of a police car flipped at Nelson and Granville.

Const. Jana McGuiness said police were disappointed by the reaction to the loss. There is no word yet on the number of arrests.

"We're ready. It's a huge challenge of course. It's about making sure the fans and officers get home safely."

She said police are executing their crowd control plan right now.

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Downtown Vancouver rocked by Stanley Cup post-game riot

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